WWE Attitude Era star Gangrel is showing no signs of slowing down at this stage of his pro wrestling career.
The veteran pro wrestler, 57, still competes regularly on the independent scene in the United States as well as taking overseas bookings. While many stars of that era have since called it a day, Gangrel has no intentions of preparing for one last match at this time.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, the former WWE star stated that he still loves wrestling, but admitted that he isn’t a fan of the travel:
“Absolutely, 100%. I don’t know about the travelling as much, but I still love wrestling, so I tell people it’s a lot like a musician. You’ll hear them say, ‘I get paid to travel, not play music.’ I get paid to travel, not wrestle. I would wrestle for free anyway. I love wrestling. When I asked you, what’s your fee, I go, what are we talking about? I look at it, and my fee is addressed to where that travel is. I’ve wrestled in every state, been to a lot of countries and stuff like that, so I know exactly what’s involved in that travel, and that the travel is what adjusts my fee. It’s not necessarily the wrestling part of it. I still love wrestling; it’s the travel of it.”
Although he no longer wears the white shirt, and hasn’t for 20 years, Gangrel is still happy to give the people what they want. Along with stating that the shirts only get one use and it can be expensive, there will always be a blood spray and his signature finisher with every booking:
“I haven’t worn a puffy shirt. If somebody wants a puffy shirt, if they request it, I say, ‘Sure, you buy it. Make sure you get one. I’ll sign it and leave it with you, but I won’t go hunt them down.’ They don’t make them the same. They’re cheesier, and to custom make them cost way more than what you could buy, it gets out of control. So if they want it, I’m not against wearing it, but it’s just working, you just go through them, you get one show out of them, they’re either torn or that you can’t get the stains out, not the blood stains, the blood comes out, but I spray the blood every night. I still get out my wallet for the blood. You got to have the blood and the Impaler DDT.”
Another Attitude Era star who is still competing regularly is Billy Gunn, who is signed to AEW. Despite turning 63 in November, Gunn is still in great shape and is also not looking at that final match.
Gangrel also stated in the interview that while he hopes to look like Gunn in his 60s, he is unsure about wrestling at that age:
“I didn’t say I want to wrestle in my 60s, I want to look like Billy Gunn in my 60s [laughs]. I don’t know when I want to wrestle to. It’s a toss-up. I tell everybody, Turkey’s a big thing now with the hair, so it’s a toss-up. Before I thought my body would give out on me, but the body seems to keep motoring, and I keep getting healthier, and I think that has a lot to do with my wife and a happy marriage, and a better lifestyle. But I can’t stop the hair from coming out. When you get these high definition lights, when you’re sweating and they shine down on you, they are unforgiving, and I’m very vain.”
What Is Former WWE Star Gangrel Up To Now?
On top of still competing at independent shows, the former leader of The Brood is also a coach at the KECH Pro Wrestling Academy in Nashville. The school was opened earlier in the year, with WWE star Rusev as the owner and one of the trainers.
Featured image: Miami New Times
